Analysis on the New Super Eagles World Cup Kit as it Tops the UK Paper Ranking

The unveiling of the new Super Eagles 2018 World Cup Kit took the world by storm, Hours after the Nigeria Football Federation and its partner, Nike, on Wednesday unveiled the kit, the newspaper, Daily Mirror, ranked it top among the 19 kits so far unveiled across the world ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Russia this June.

That has set Nigerian fans excited! Why? The new unveiled Super Eagles kit at a World Cup brought back the memories of the 1994 World Cup, which was the first time Nigeria qualified for the FIFA World Cup. it may be a coincidence that the new Kit may determine the quality and team performance.

Nike came under intense pressure, after a Nigerian journalist, Andrew Randa, posted some designs he thought would be great for the Eagles last year, Nike came up with a design that would not just be one of Nike’s traditional designs but one created specifically for the Super Eagles. which made some of the Nigerian fans excited.

Andrew Randa Kit Design

As so many social media platforms were ecstatic about the new designs, some Nigeria Journalist and Football fans where scrutinizing the new jersey, some wondered what part of the Nigerian green-white-green flag was represented in the jerseys. And also following the idea behind the Nike new kit design “The Attitude of the Nigerians”

Nike are also responsible for other six kit designs from the 19 kits, racked by The Daily Mirror – Nigeria, England, Brazil, Croatia, Portugal, and France.

The Nigeria and World Cup jerseys from 1994-till date

In 1994, the team led by Stephen Keshi came out in Adidas kits that were unveiled at the Nations Cup, which the Eagles won. That particular jersey was adjudged as the best because it had no predecessor and the design has not been seen since. The Eagles then dazzled just as their jerseys were dazzling.

In 1998, it was a muted effort by Nike as the Eagles again qualified for the second round before been roundly beaten by Denmark.

In 2002 in the South Korea/Japan World Cup, the Eagles were a pale shadow of themselves and that was appropriately reflected in the Nike kit that was supposedly electric green but was, in fact, green washed so thin you did not know what to call it. That team in the five appearances at the Mundial is the worst till date. They scored just one goal in their three matches and came last in their group.

In 2010, the Eagles returned to the World Cup in simple Adidas jerseys and their displays were that – simple. The Eagles could not progress from a group comprising Argentina, Greece and South Korea, as Sani Kaita became the first Super Eagles’ player to be shown a straight red card at the tournament.

The late Keshi led the Super Eagles to the 2014 tournament in Brazil and there was some enthusiasm about the Adidas jerseys they sported. And just as the enthusiasm was, the team got to the second round to be eliminated by France.

BREAKING!!!Sportswear giant Nike,has taken inspiration from Super Eagles jersey to the 1995 King Fahd Cup-now known as FIFA Confederations Cup-for the Nigeria's 2018 FIFA World Cup kit. pic.twitter.com/lPriTe66VV

Still on the Super Eagles jersey, I would have preferred a darker shade of green, like this on the right. And the lemon numbering on the 2nd kit is a bit meh too. Am I just looking for perfection? I don't know… pic.twitter.com/lgJovDZyyu

Adeyemi Adesanya, who talks sports on Radio, took us back to 2012 saying Nike always uses colours that are not Nigeria’s. “These are not our colours. Why does Nike always do this? They did the same in 2002 with their lemon green.

“Now that 2nd jersey looks like ‘Okrika’ [not well made] version of the ’95 Jersey. The 1st one is dark green; but what do I know; we have imbeciles at the helm who know nothing about branding.”

While Dumnodi Okonta of Channels TV said, “Well, I have my reservations because of the Lemon colour.”

Whatever your reaction to these new jerseys – will it preclude the fact that the Eagles will be as good as these new Nike offerings in Russia?

Photo Credit: ph-microscopeThe Kalabari are people inhabiting the Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru and Degema local government areas of Rivers State. Early Kalabari people believed in Creation (ogina temebô teme). God creates, man procreates,...

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